This weekend: Peoples' Festival, Robert Randolph & Robot House

Wilmington's annual Peoples' Festival will celebrate the life and music of former resident and reggae superstar Bob Marley for the 20th time this weekend.

It's also the first time the festival has been held without the guiding hand of one of its founders, Ibis Pitts, who passed away last year at the age of 69.

Pitts, who befriended Marley during his years living in Wilmington, was a major force behind the festival, which he organized each year with his wife Genny and the rest of his family.

Genny Pitts and others have come together to keep the festival rolling for its two decade anniversary, which will be celebrated Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. in the city's Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park.

A trio of Jamaican acts top the day's bill: Veteran reggae act Third World, reggae/dancehall performer I-Octane and Rastafari dub poet Mutabaruka. It's Third World's first time at the festival. I-Octane performed at the very first Peoples' Festival in 1994.

Other acts include The Flex Crew, The Evocatones, Tasha T, Dub Campaign, Dub Architect. Wilmington reggae band Spokey Speaky and Richard Raw, a Wilmington rapper, will also perform. The Egalitarian & Dinkendo Family Band from Gambia and based out of Wilmington in recent months, is also on the bill.

Shirts come off. Tongues come out. And they sometimes sing about subjects that cannot be printed in a family newspaper.

After five years of wild house shows, club gigs and local festival sets, Newark's own indie pop/rock act Robot House is finally releasing its first album, entitled "Hard Style."

Sure, there are songs with titles like "Sniffing Glue" and "Windex Drinkers Anonymous." And, yes, there's one particularly gnarly belch on the 11-track debut. But it would be a mistake to dismiss the Robot House as a gag band based on its youthful hi inks.

The album is filled with wonderfully crafted pop songs ("Days That Went For Weeks," "Crazy Dreams," "Where Did You Come From") and hard-driving indie rock hooks that stick with you long after the music stops.

Check out the trio's must-see live show Home Grown Café (126 E Main St, Newark) Friday night at 10.

The band will be on its home turf and it is also the official CD release show for "Hard Style," so be prepared for "the foulest album release party of all time," warns Singer/guitarist Billy Bartz, bassist Davis M. Shubs and drummer Barrett May.

The show is free and copies of the album will be for sale for $8. "Hard Style" is also now available via digital release on iTunes and other online retailers starting Friday.